Mark Stoneman, an elegant and understated left-handed opening batsman, has developed into one of the most reliable opening batsmen in county cricket, prospering in the English game's most northerly outpost like few before him.

Stoneman played at Under-17 and Under-19 level for England, making his bow for the Under-19s in the 2006 World Cup in Sri Lanka, although he had a miserable time, registering just 20 runs in four innings.

He broke into the Durham first team at 20 in the second half of the 2007 season, hitting 50 in his second match against Hampshire before making a real impression with a patient 101 from 232 balls in the victory over Sussex to keep Durham in the title race.

But it was some time before his potential began to be realised. He was part of the Championship-winning squads in 2008 and 2009 but only began to lay claim to a regular place at the top of the order upon the retirement of Australian Michael Di Venuto.

His second Championship century some four years after his first, in August 2011, and it was another year before he made his third. Yet his form in the Clydesdale Bank 40 in 2012 was outstanding, bringing him 558 runs at 69.75, including three centuries. His 136 not out against Scotland at Chester-le-Street is his highest score in all cricket.

He was the club's Batsmen of the Year in 2012 and, as his confidence spread into the four-day game, was a key player in Durham's 2013 title season - indeed, Stoneman and Scott Borthwick passed 1,000 first-class runs in successive seasons, a feat strikingly out of kilter with Durham's history. He also captained the side when Paul Collingwood was out injured, an indication of the growing respect in which he was held, and as one-day captain led Durham to the Royal London Cup in 2014.
ESPNcricinfo staff